7 NC Lighthouses

If you visit my Etsy shop you will notice that a few items listed are vintage collectibles. I have collected different items over the years when visiting different coastal antique shops. One of the items that I love, is the vintage Lighthouse hooks. I love that I live on the Coast of North Carolina and that I have 7 different Lighthouses to visit close by me or taking a short day trip to see one of them. When I found the hooks I knew that it had a place in my shop!

There are seven standing North Carolina Lighthouses: Currituck, Bodie Island, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Cape Lookout, Oak Island, and Bald Head Island. Living on the Coast of North Carolina I have had the opportunity to visit most of these beautiful places. These seven coastal lighthouses dot North Carolina’s shoreline from the Outer Banks to the Brunswick Islands. Long ago these structures protected fortune hunters from our shores, as of today they lure visitors for some of the most incredible sights you’ll ever see.

The Currituck Beach Light Station on the northern Outer Banks has protected North Carolina’s shores since 1875. Made of roughly 1 million red bricks, this active lighthouse’s exterior differs from a more common black-and-white color scheme to the south. You can climb and visit the Light Station Easter through Thanksgiving

When my family and I visited Kitty Hawk and Nags Head over the Spring we got to explore this amazing place. At the entrance of this protected area is Bodie Island Lighthouse (pronounced “body”). Today’s structure is the third lighthouse to stand on this site. Take the 214-step trip to the top, and then explore the lighthouse museum and bookshop in the former keeper’s quarters. You can visit the lighthouse in April through Columbus Day.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is the nation’s tallest and most recognizable lighthouse, it’s commonly referred to as “America’s Lighthouse” and was completed in 1870. Climb its 257 stairs during the day or watch its light shine for 20 miles at night. You can visit this lighthouse the same time frame as the Bodie Lighthouse.

To reach the oldest still-operating lighthouse in North Carolina, you can take a free ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke Island. The whitewashed lighthouse is one of the nation’s five oldest still-active facilities. Although you can’t climb the stairs to the top, the view from the base alone is worth the trip. The village is steeped in history, only accessible by water or air and was once a safe haven for the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

The Cape Lookout Lighthouse is most recognized for its large black-and-white diamond design. Originally rejected by 19th century mariners, the structure was later used as the model for future Outer Banks lighthouses. It’s the southernmost lighthouse on the Crystal Coast along the Outer Banks and is only accessible by private ferry. When climbing its 207 steps you can take in 360-degree views of the area’s turquoise blue waters and undeveloped beaches.

Traveling south of the Outer Banks to the Brunswick Islands beaches, you can cross onto Oak Island to see the Oak Island Lighthouse. With a light that can be seen for 24 miles, this lighthouse is one of the worlds most powerful. I have the opportunity to visit this lighthouse many times because my family lives near this beautiful structure.

North Carolina’s southernmost lighthouse is visible from Oak Island. Return to the mainland and head to Southport where you can take the ferry to Bald Head Island. Similar to Ocracoke, Bald Head is only accessible by water or air. Old Baldy’s appearance is a result of decades of patchwork repair and its 141 years of service. Climb to the top of its 108 steps to take in the view and explore the restored keeper’s cottage on the property.

When you get a chance to visit NC coastal areas try to stop at one of these amazing places! Also you can check out the vintage hooks at